The lead promoter and founder of East Coast Comicon, Cliff Galbraith, bragged on social media about banning Christian conservative actor Kevin Sorbo from the upcoming geek convention in New Jersey because of the actor’s friendship with Sean Hannity.
“I turned down Kevin Sorbo for East Coast Comicon,” organizer Galbraith wrote on Facebook over the weekend. “He’s pals with Sean Hannity. Just can’t do it.”
As with video games, YA literature, and tech, the comic book and nerd culture convention circuit has become progressively left-leaning over the past few years–and East Coast Comicon is no exception. Its founder, Cliff Galbraith, advertised last year’s event with a comic art poster featuring the Statue of Liberty wrapped in terms like “homophobia,” “misogyny,” “racism,” “xenophobia,” “voter suppression,” and more–as highlighted by YouTuber Reality Talk Reviews.
The comic convention isn’t small fries. In 2017, Galbraith managed to sign actor Danny Trejo and high-profile comic book talent from Marvel Comics.
Galbraith’s post announcing his intent to deny Sorbo a spot at the event received multiple replies urging him to ban other right-wing celebrities, with one linking to an IMDB list of “Racist or Right wing stars to AVOID ( if you are a liberal like myself)” [sic]. The list, which features Sorbo at the top, also includes legendary actors Clint Eastwood, Mel Gibson, James Woods and Jon Voight, and 80’s action hero Chuck Norris.
Many people in the replies–friends and associates of Galbraith, who posts publicly on Twitter–cheered on the decision to blacklist the actor from the event.
Cliff Galbraith on Facebook (Screenshot via Facebook)
Kevin Sorbo earned his nerd cred in the ’90s when he starred as Hercules in “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys,” alongside Michael Hurst. Years after “Hercules,” Sorbo starred as the main character in the sci-fi drama series “Andromeda.” More recently, the actor has appeared in guest roles in the CW series Supergirl.
Sorbo has been a well-liked figure at geek conventions throughout the United States, but like “Firefly” and “The Last Ship” star Adam Baldwin, Sorbo now suffers from exclusion simply because of heightened enmity toward conservatives among the progressive left.
The actor previously expressed that his religious views caused Hollywood to limit his career.
“There’s a negativity towards Christians in Hollywood. And a negativity towards people who believe in God,” said Sorbo in a 2013 interview with Fox News.
Given East Coast Comicon’s treatment of the conservative Christian actor, Sorbo’s claims have merit.
Ian Miles Cheong is a journalist and outspoken media critic. You can reach him through social media at @stillgray on Twitter and on Facebook.